129 Men Were Cut Off Underground in 1950 — What Happened Next Took Three Days

Coal mining documentary: 129 men cut off underground at Knockshinnoch Colliery, New Cumnock, Ayrshire, 1950, and the three-day rescue. On the evening of 7 September 1950, after days of heavy rain, liquid peat from a bog above Knockshinnoch Castle Colliery near New Cumnock broke into the workings. The colliery had been sunk in 1942 on the site of a much older pit and was run by the National Coal Board, employing around 700 men. Of the 135 men underground, six got out at once and 129 were cut off. A telephone line to the surface stayed intact, which allowed the trapped men to report where they were. The way out led through the old, gas-filled workings of the neighbouring Bank No. 6 mine. Rescuers formed a chain along its roadway and passed breathing apparatus from hand to hand, and 116 men were brought out after about three days. Thirteen men could not be reached. The film follows the rescue, the families waiting at the pithead in New Cumnock, and how the village remembers the men today. The story was later retold in the 1952 film The Brave Don't Cry, and a service marked the 75th anniversary in 2025. Sources and further reading: Official report, "Accident at Knockshinnoch Castle Colliery" (Cmd 8180) New Cumnock History, "Knockshinnoch Disaster Thursday 7th September 1950" "Knockshinnoch disaster", Wikipedia #CoalMiningHistory #BritishHistory #PitVillageBritain